Balochistan trying to meet high oxygen demand Government dismisses concerns over shortage of cylinders across province QUETTA: With Covid-19 cases soaring in Balochistan, the demand for oxygen has also increased significantly. However, oxygen supplies at government hospitals in the provincial capital Quetta are either inactive or insufficient because the government has not fulfilled prior financial commitments to private companies for these oxygen cylinders. Most of the cases of coronavirus are being reported from just seven districts across the province, including the most populated Quetta, due to which the need for oxygen has also increased. Oxygen supplies for Covid-19 patients at the Fatima Jinnah Hospital are inactive. However, the provincial authorities have issued a tender for a new oxygen plant for the facility. The oxygen plant at BMC Hospital is operating at minimum capacity despite the health emergency while the plants at the Sheikh Zayed Hospital and Civil Hospital, sourced from private companies, have low capacities.